A Water Leak Behind Drywall: How to Find It?

Are you noticing anything different with your wall? Are there signs of dampness or discoloration? The reason might be a leak behind the drywall. It is a very severe condition which can damage, beyond the point of repair, your wall and the appliances mounted on the wall. Therefore, it is imperative that such kind of water damage is quickly and accurately detected and fixed.
A water leak behind the drywall is not necessarily visible all the time. It could well be hidden in plain sight for a considerably long period. The issue with this is when it becomes too late to do anything substantial to repair. Then you have to plan the restoration from scratch which can cost you a lot of money. All of these can be avoided if you notice the signs beforehand.

Dampness in the wall

You will notice signs of dampening in your walls. You will right away notice it if you observe the walls. Now the thing is, dampness in the wall is a very good indicator but it is not always accurate to assume that the dampness is due to a leak behind the drywall.
Water leak in San Diego from walls during rain is very common as well. Such leaks are usually a result of excess water on the roofs that could penetrate into walls. Nevertheless, your walls need to be repaired in one way or another so run a check for leaks behind the drywall.

Mold growth

Mold growth is also a pretty noticeable symptom. Mold can be caused by other things as well, especially from excessive moisture. But leaks behind the drywall often cause mold infestation. Therefore, mold growth and dampness on walls during a dry season can hint at a leak.

Wall stains that spread

Wall stains are slow and often go unnoticed. If there is a wall stain that spreads with time, there is a very good chance of a leak behind the wall. Stains are often followed by significant water damage.

Puddles of water around the wall

If there are puddles of water around the wall, you have to locate where the water is coming from. If there are no appliances mounted on that wall, the water is coming from the leak behind.

Discoloration

The discoloration is usually a very good indicator of leaks. If there is significant discoloration on your wall, there must be a leak behind.

Dripping noises

At night, if you hear dripping noises near the walls, it could be because of a leak in the concealed wall plumbing. Try following that noise and find out if there are some traces of a water leak visible anywhere else. You could also use a water leak detector to locate the source of the wall from where the leak has started.

High water bills

If there is a very massive spike in your water bills without any explanation, there might be a leak. Always compare your bills and track your water usage.

Bad and musty odors

If you sense a musty, moldy odor coming from the walls, there might be mold growth behind the wall, or a black water pipe might have leaked. The water damage behind the wall also gives away a musty smell. If such odors are present there is a leak.

Peeling or damage to the wall

Old walls will have peeled or damaged sections. It is rather normal. But if your walls were in good condition even a few days ago and now it is showing signs of damage and peeling, there could be a leak behind.

How to find a water leak inside a wall?

In order to find a leak inside a wall you should, at first, test your suspicion. There is one very tested method to confirm a leak.
So to try that out, you have to close off all your faucets, shower, appliances, or anything that has a connection with your water supply line. After that, take an initial reading of your water meter.
Now give it at least three hours. If there is a significant alteration in the number it means you have a massive leak. If there is even a slight alteration it could hint at a leak but the chances are not as high as the former one.
Now, this method will work on just about any leak. But if your walls are showing signs of a leak behind them and you can confirm there is a leak, you can now just call an expert for detection and be 100% sure.

Also Read: Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Water Damage Restoration Services

How to find where a leak is coming from?

If you do not want to involve yourself in guesswork, you can use two devices for finding out a leak. These can be used as wall water leakage detectors. You can use a moisture meter or an infrared camera.
A moisture meter can detect moisture anywhere. So place one on your wall, if it’s showing high moisture, it is a leak.
An infrared camera measures optical energy and temperature. It is a better way to locate the actual area of the leak. There are other options present as well. You can hire a very good company for water leak detection in San Diego, they will have all these types of equipment in their newest versions.

Who Repairs Water Pipes?

You can repair the leak yourself if you want to. Nevertheless, if it is a big leak, we recommend hiring a water leak expert because they usually have all the necessary equipments and experience to solve your problem. It is better for your safety and hygiene as well.
Water leak experts are plumbers themselves. They will be licensed and trained. But most importantly, try hiring teams who specialize in repairing water leaks in San Diego. It will do you massive favor in terms of reliable completion of the work. Hiring the right expert for repairing your leak will not only lessen your hassle but also save you a lot of money.
EZ Plumbing and Restoration is a very esteemed company who offers all water damage restoration in San Diego, be it in your kitchen, bathroom, or behind a drywall. We have 24/7 active water leak detection experts and repair experts in San Diego who will exactly pinpoint the location of the leak and repair it. We prefer to use the most non-invasive method possible to repair the leak.